Mumbai, Oct 26 (UNI) The mortal remains of veteran actor Satish Shah was consigned to flames at the Pawan Hans crematorium in the city suburb today amidst the presence of a glittering array of film and television personalities who bade a tearful farewell to the much-loved artist.
Satish Shah died yesterday, aged 74. The celebrated actor, known for his impeccable comic timing and iconic roles on television and in cinema, succumbed to kidney failure in Mumbai.
The entire cast of his cult classic “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai” Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajesh Kumar, Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, and producer Jamnadas Majethia attended the ceremony.
Rajesh Kumar, who portrayed his on-screen son, served as a pallbearer and described the loss as “like losing my own father.”
Other prominent attendees included Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah, Johny Lever, David Dhawan, Dilip Joshi, Kunal Kohli, Ashoke Pandit, Aanjjan Srivastav, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Actress Rupali Ganguly was seen consoling the grieving family.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended condolences, calling Shah a “remarkable actor who contributed immensely to Hindi and Marathi cinema.”
Across the film fraternity, tributes poured in. Anupam Kher, speaking from Switzerland, remembered his long-time friend as “Satish mere Shah.”
Johny Lever, who shared a four-decade friendship with him, said he had lost “a great artist and dearest friend.” Farah Khan called him “a joy to know and work with,” while Hrithik Roshan recalled Shah’s warmth during his debut.
Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, and R. Madhavan were also among those who expressed grief.
An FTII Pune alumnus, Shah’s distinguished career spanned over four decades and more than 250 films. He debuted in “Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan” (1978) and rose to fame with the 1983 satire “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro,” where his portrayal of a corpse became iconic.
His memorable filmography includes “Hum Saath Saath Hain,” “Kal Ho Naa Ho,” “Main Hoon Na,” “Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai,” “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” and “Om Shanti Om.” On television, he became a household name with the 1984 sitcom “Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi,” in which he played 55 different characters.
However, his most beloved role remains that of Indravadan Sarabhai in “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.” Though the show initially went off air after 70 episodes, it achieved cult status and returned on Disney Hotstar in 2017. Shah received three Indian Television Academy Awards for the role, widely regarded as one of Indian television’s finest performances.
Shah is survived by his wife Madhu Shah, a designer battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Close friend Sachin Pilgaonkar revealed that the actor underwent his kidney transplant with the hope of extending his life to care for her. Friends described their bond as deeply affectionate, recalling joyful recent moments the couple shared.
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who confirmed the news of Shah’s death, described it as a “huge loss to Indian cinema and television.” His long-time manager, Ramesh Kadatala, who served him for over 30 years, said the actor collapsed suddenly during lunch.
